Commonwealth war gravesites, found near or in just about every town and city in South Africa, are mostly impressive.
So also is the one in Vryheid’s cemetery: almost 50 metres in length, green manicured grass and rows of names on whitewashed crosses and marble.
So impressive is the one in Vryheid’s cemetery, it nearly completely obscures the two much smaller, twin-like stones, which stand alone in an area of the graveyard, which some say was meant to be the ‘Hero’s Acre’.
These two stones bear the names of two young men, who lost their lives during a terrible time in this country’s not-so-long-ago history.
To the left stands the grave of Constable André Nel, who was killed by a hand grenade detonated by a dissident, and the other grave bears the name of another namesake…
André Dan Mostert was born in Johannesburg on May 3, 1964.
His mother is Maria Magdalena ‘Miems’ Ebersohn, ex Mostert, born Van Heerden, and his father was Daniël Jakobus ‘Dan’ Mostert.
Dan was once a sergeant in the South African Police, who served in the Flying Squad and the Fingerprints Department, and was once also attached to the infamous Brixton Murder and Robbery Unit.
The Mostert family lived on the Van Heerden’s plot at Eensgevonden outside Vryheid for almost 30 years.
André started his schooling career in 1970 at Laerskool Vastrap in Rustenburg, in the North West, and in Vryheid he attended Nuwe Republiek Primary School.
He matriculated from Vryheid High School in 1981.
During his high school years, he participated in athletics, cross country running and rugby.
André’s mother, Miems, who now lives in Pretoria, says André had a passion for nature, loved horses and spent hours on his red Honda MB50 motorcycle.
In 1982, 18-year-old André joined the South African Defence Force (SADF), and he received training at the SADF Equestrian Centre in Potchefstroom.
He was later stationed at the operational unit in Okatopi in Namibia, where his unit patrolled the ‘Kaplyn’ (Namibian/Angolan border) on horseback and motorcycle.
On November 24, 1983, Lance Corporal André Mostert, of the South West Africa Specialised Mounted Infantry Unit, died as a result of a military motor vehicle accident, less than 40 days to ‘uitklaar’ – the end of his compulsory two-year military service – at Opuwa in Kaokaland.
Miems says André, in order to visit a dentist, had hitched a ride in a broken down Buffel armoured car, which was being towed to a nearby town. The Buffel overturned and André was critically injured.
Miems says an SA Air Force helicopter was sent to ferry André to a hospital, but her son passed away the very moment the helicopter lifted off from the accident scene with him on board.
André had four brothers, Danie, Bertus, Jean and Quintin, and it was a double blow for the Mostert family when, only 15 months after the death of André, Jean died in a tragic shooting accident.
On February 22, 2017 Ninian Barrie wrote: “André Dan Mostert reported to the SADF Equestrian Centre in Potchefstroom in 1982 for his two-year compulsory military service. He was in Platoon 2. I was one of his Platoon Sergeants. André received training in infantry as well as in specialised mounted infantry. I got to know him very well and saw him grow from one who had just finished matric to a soldier capable of defending his country. He was a very proud person, and also very humble, and was respected by his peers. He showed good leadership and was also an outstanding athlete when it came to the dreaded 2,4 km runs. He loved his horse, and never hesitated to ask for guidance. He was one of the best soldiers that I ever knew. Greetings. Ninian Barry.”
On the same date, Nantes van Rensburg wrote:
“Till today I can still remember his military number, yet I don’t know the reason for that. So let me start there. 81881885BG AD Mostert. In 1982 we started together at the SADF Equestrian Centre with our two-year national military service. He was a good and pleasant person. What I will always remember about him was how proud he was about his mother and how dearly he loved her. I do not think anyone in our platoon could find fault with him. He was very proud, and very neat, and after one of our inspections he received an extra weekend pass because his locker and clothing was found to be so neat. He was a great athlete who always came first during the 2,4 km runs, and not just for our platoon, but first out of all four platoons. He was a section leader in the Mounted Unit, and all had respect for him. I do not know the exact cause of his death, but I know it came as a huge shock to us all. On the day we heard of his death there was not one of us who did not cry. He was a man who was taken away too soon and who will never be forgotten.”
Lance Corporal André Dan Mostert’s remains were brought home to Vryheid, and he was given semi-military honours at the Vryheid ‘Weskerk’, and was laid to rest in the Vryheid Cemetery. His name is engraved on the War Memorial in Vryheid.
Lest we forget.
If you enjoyed this article by André van Ellinckhuysen, you might also want to check out the following:
‘Lest we forget’ Willie Minott and Sons – The brave soldier who fought against tyranny
Armistice Day – A century later, ‘remember them’
Dr Cyril Coswald Brown and the Ghost of Bains Kloof
Remembering Lieutenant Colonel John Moore Gawne
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